Analysis of 700+ PS5 Discs Shows Most Games Work Fully Offline

A new analysis of more than 700 PlayStation 5 game discs is challenging the idea that physical media is just “digital with extra steps.” The findings suggest that most PS5 releases can be fully played without an internet connection, account sign-ins, or mandatory downloads—meaning the disc itself still functions as the primary delivery method for the game’s usable content.

This matters as the industry debates what “ownership” really means. Some players argue that buying a disc doesn’t provide meaningful control because publishers can effectively gate access through online requirements, forced updates, or subscription-based access. A new set of disc testing results pushes back on that claim, while a separate controversy adds even more tension to the conversation.

On July 1, Sony announced that PlayStation consoles will stop receiving physical discs starting in 2028. The decision was met with immediate criticism from gamers concerned it could weaken consumer rights and slowly eliminate the practical idea of owning a game. Supporters of the shift countered that players never truly own the product in the first place, since the publisher controls the content regardless of whether it appears on a disc.

Against that backdrop, a legal angle that has resurfaced is making the broader implications feel more serious than many expected.

93% of PS5 Discs Tested Can Be Played Offline

An extensive review by DoesItPlay? examined 778 PS5 disc releases. Of those, 723 were confirmed to be playable with no online check-in and no downloads required. In other words, the data indicates that roughly 93% of physical PS5 games can be experienced in full on an offline console, with no additional steps needed to access the advertised gameplay.

The study also breaks down the remaining cases. It reports that 66% of the tested discs may involve minor or optional downloads—such as pre-order perks or other extras that do not alter the core gameplay experience. DoesItPlay? further states that only 4% of PS5 discs contain content that is effectively blocked behind internet-dependent check-ins or required downloads.

• 93% playable offline
• 66% require optional download
• 4% locked behind online check-ins or downloads

• 92% playable offline
• 73% require optional download
• 4% locked behind online check-ins or downloads

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When the same kind of testing is applied to PlayStation 4 discs, the numbers shift slightly. DoesItPlay? analyzed more than 1,200 PS4 games and found that 92% can be played without needing any downloads or an internet connection. As with PS5, only 4% are described as having major parts of the content locked behind downloads or online check-ins that prevent offline play.

DoesItPlay? defines an “offline-playable” game in plain terms: the title does not rely on any online verification, a permanent internet connection, and/or online accounts.

• Image via Sony
• Image via Sony
• Image via Sony

What the Numbers Could Mean for PS5 Players

For players, the most immediate takeaway is practical rather than philosophical: the PS5 library appears to include a large number of discs that can be used independently of online systems. Based on the study’s counts, there are at least 723 PS5 games that players can theoretically loan, rent, sell, or keep in their collections without worrying about losing access to the content due to connectivity requirements.

That said, the study’s results do not guarantee permanence. Sony could, in theory, change how future PlayStation hardware or system software treats these discs, potentially reducing offline usefulness over time.

Still, as things stand, the testing suggests that many physical releases provide buyers with a level of control that digital purchases often fail to deliver. Digital games can be removed or restricted by publishers and storefronts, particularly when legal or licensing issues arise. For example, PlayStation Store has previously stated it would remove more than 500 movies from users’ accounts for legal reasons—an example that underscores how access can change regardless of what a customer previously purchased.

More broadly, debates over ownership rights have expanded beyond offline capability and beyond the physical-versus-digital framing. Politicians and lawmakers in multiple regions have weighed in, and players have also launched official petitions aimed at shifting the law to better protect buyers who purchase physical media. The outcome of these legal fights and consumer protests is still unclear, but the direction of travel could influence how game access works in the coming years.

• Most PS5 discs tested appear playable without online check-ins or required downloads.
• Only a small slice of PS5 discs is described as having meaningful content locked behind internet-dependent access.
• PS4 discs show a similar trend, with most titles also workable offline and only a small minority blocked by online requirements.
• Even if discs work offline today, future system changes could still affect how much value players get from physical media.